PHANTOM.**

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn, and no price-clip to dw/dj.Glossy laminated,colour pictorial illustrated artwork upper wrap by Peter Chadwick; with negligible shelf-wear and minimal creasing to edges - no nicks or tears present.Head+foot of spine/backstrip minimally bumped with reciprocal creasing.Top+fore-edges bright and clean; contents bright,tight and clean also.Clean tan paper-covered boards with bright,crisp, blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip and immaculate plain white endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,10- 218pp includes half-title+title pages,contents list/table, illustrations+maps lists,Pts 1+2 comprising 15 chapters,an epilogue,further reading,appendices (2),an index,and 6pp blanks to rear. Phantom was - and still is - one of the least known of the wartime special regiments.It began in 1939 with the mission of finding out exactly where all the Allied forward positions were - a task which required linguistic ability, unlimited tact,and radio expertise.After Dunkirk its squadrons at first kept an eye on all invasion points,then sent a unit to Greece,and more to the Middle East.Soon it proved an indispensable direct communication link between the forward patrols and command headquarters. It operated in Italy,Sicily,Austria,France,Belgium,Holland, and Germany.Phantom took the fog out of war by informing the British,the Canadians and the Americans exactly what their forward troops were doing and the enemy's reaction. Phantom was at Dieppe with the Commandos,in France with the SAS, at Arnhem with Airborne and in Germany until the surrender.Phantom members were as varied and colourful as its tasks.They included many who would become very well known later.Among such were two Privy Councillors,three life peers,five hereditary peers,the Master of a Cambridge college,three professors,a famous actor-playwright,a film star,a famous sculptor,a Law Lord, renowned leader-writer,an ambassador,a racing journalist, a steward of the Jockey Club,a Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (see my book ID rja828119) and several authors. It was a private army,a great success story,and a happy unit.The book gives a full account of its military achievements,which the Americans and Canadians rated 'invaluable',and abounds with bizarre incidents and amusing stories.An uncommon title from this publisher, now out-of-print, as publisher ceased trading mid 1980's. William Kimber himself,worked for Hutchinson for about 17 years before founding "William Kimber & Co" in 1950.It specialized in aviation,war memoirs,autobiographies and motor-racing titles until 1973 when "Haunted Cornwall" took off and the Ghost Stories became another specialty. The company was bought by Thorsons in 1988,and therefore ceased publishing under that name. William Kimber was purchased by Thorsons in 1988 and therefore ceased publishing under that name. Thorsons was purchased by William Collins in 1989.William Collins became wholly owned by News Corporation in 1990,and was then incorporated into HarperCollins Publishers. The name of William Kimber has not been used for publishing since that,making all previously published titles by them, out-of-print,under that name. Please contact seller @ rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the weight/value of this item,for correct, insured shipping/ P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page! ** N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE.
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